Method of and apparatus for shaping golf-club faces and club produced thereby



July 3, 1928. 1,675,437

- F. A. WALDRON Manon 0? mm APPARATUS FOR SHAPING sow cwa FACES AND CLUBPRODUCED THEREBY Filed Aug. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Z lNVEN'i'ORFrrderz'a/r A. Waldron ATTORNEY July 3, 1928. 1,675,437

F. A. WALDRON union or AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING ecu cLuB FACES AND CLUBPRODUCED THEREBY Filed Aug. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 5Sheets-Sheet F. A. WALDRON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING GOLF CLUBFACES AND CLUB PRODUCED THEREBY Filed Aug. 4, 1927 mail- 0 Rr Y 3% 3 M A.6 m Y \MB/ \Nv July 3, 1928.

F. A. WALDRON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING GOLF CLUB FACES ANDCLUB PRODUCED THEREBY Filed Aug. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORfk'aQrz'ck/l M/dran ATTORNEY July 3, 192a. 1,675,437

F. A. WALDRON IETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING GOLF CLUB FACES ANDCLUB PRODUCED THEREBY Fiied Aug. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a LJ soINVENTOR 20 ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. WALDRON, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING GOLF-CLUB FACES AND CLUB PRODUCEDTHEREBY.

Application filed August 4,

The present invention relates to method of and apparatus for shapinggolf club faces, and club produced thereby.

When a golf club is being swung toward a golf ball to strike the ball,the club head acquires kinetic energy according to the square of thevelocity it attains in the downward swing, and at the impact of the clubhead against the ball, a portion of this energy is transferred to theball to start it on its flight. The distance accomplished by the strokeis affected by a number of factors in addition to the speed of the clubhead and the strength and direction of the blow. Slicing and pulling areto a considerable extent caused by the whirling of the ball as it passesthrough the air. This whirling is produced by movement of the club facerelative to the ball surface during the time the club and ball are incontact. \Vhen the striking face is exactly normal to the line of flightat the time the ball leaves the club, whirling is a minimum and theeffectiveness of the stroke a maximum.

In addressing the ball it is customary to grasp the club grip, place theclub head adjacent the ball and then adjust its striking face to such aposition relative to the ball and the desired direction of drive asappears to be best according to the experience of the player. Whenmaking these observations and adjustments, the club head is not,however, in the position relative to the grip which it assumes whendelivering the blow to the ball. This is on account of the reaction ofthe ball on the moving club head which momentarily retards the club headpermitting the grip to continue its advance thereby affecting the normalloft of the club.

The extent of the relative movement of the club head and grip isconsiderable. and the amount of the deflection depends upon a number offactors such as the strength of the blow, club speed, the stiffness ofthe shaft to lateral deflection, the torsional resistance of the shaft,and the effect of whip action and Wind resistance. The effect of thesefactors will, of course, vary considerably, depending principally uponthe size of the shaft, and the material from which it is constructed.

In addressing the ball the player is in the 1927. Serial No. 210,470.

habit of giving the club a slight twist or roll before swinging the clubup to begin the stroke, but the reason for such a manipulation and thefactors compensated for by it are almost invariably unknown to theplayer who makes the same blindly. An analysis of the conditionsobtaining when the ball is struck will show however that thls operationis an attempt to overcome the efl'ect of the whip and ball on the club.As so many variables are then present, and as no two clubs are alike, itis apparent that the player is under a considerable handicap okiyling tothe crudeness of the clubs availa e.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a golf club whereinthe striking face is located at an angle relative to the club grip tocompensate for the deflection of the club head during impact so that thestriking face when delivering the blow is normal to the line of flightand the direction of motion of the club head whereby the ball may bestarted in its flight with a minimum of whirling motion.

In order to produce a club which will function as desired underpredetermined conditions, the club face must, as I have found, belocated very carefully, taking into consideration the variablecontributing factors, and the present invention accordingly,contemplates the process of sl'iaping golf club faces under artificiallyproduced and readily controlled conditions which closely simulate thoseexisting during play. In carrying out this process. the presentinvention contemplates holding the club grip sta tionary while applyingpressnrt'i against the unfinished front face of the club head to producea predetermined moment relative to the grip which will, owing to thelateral and torsional flexibility of the shaft bring about a movement ofthe club head into a corresponding deflected position, whereupon thestriking face is shaped accordingly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus bymeans of which the shaping of club faces may be readily accomplished soas to produce clubs wherein the striking face bears proper relation tothe other parts of the club and the particular use for which it isintended.

Other and further objects of the present ill) invention will be pointedout as the specification proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show for purposes of illustration, a preferred9lllllt tll ment of an apparatus for shaping the striking faces of golfclubs, and illustrate the process employed in sha nng the same, 1t beingunderstood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention ratherthan 11111- iting the same.

Figure 1 is a front view of a right handed golf club and a golf hallillustrating in full lines the addressing of the ball, and in dott dlines club deflection;

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged end and top plan views of a golf club headillustrating in dot and daslrlines the deflection of the club due towhip, and in dotted lines the deflection upon striking the ball:

Figure 3" is a face view of a club head;

Figure 4 is a frontyiew of an apparatus for shaping golf club faces, thecutting tool being in mid position, parts being omitted;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the grip clamps taken on the line5-5 of Figure 1:

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the apparatus, taken in the direction ofthe arrow 6 of Figure 4:

Figure 7 is a top plan view taken in the direction of the arrow 7 ofFigure 6-,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view with the cutting tool to one sideand the pressure applying device in position;

Figure 9 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 9 ofFigure 8;

Figure 10 is a section of a pressure applying device; and

Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary side and front views of a modifiedform of apparatus.

The class of golf clubs to which the present invention pertains includesdrivers, brassies. and spoons. In using any one of these clubs, the hallis struck after taking a full swing and in substantially the same mannerby the player so that the interaction of the ball and club head takeplace practically the same each time the club is used. Such a club isindicated in Figure 1 and consists of a club grip 10, a flexible clubshaft 11, and head 12. The shaft is made of metal or wood and carriesthe club head having a striking face 13, the centre of which is known asthe sweet spot 14.

In addressing the ball, the player places the feet in the: properposition relative to the ball and the desired line of flight and bringsthe striking face of the club adjacent the ball. twists the clubbackward slightly, wagglcs the club and takes a swing to strike theball. Up to the time of the downward swing of the club. the club isstraight and its parts all have the same relative position withoutdistortion. As the club head acquires greater and greater velocity inthe downward swing, there is some deflection of the club head owing tothe air resistance and whip action of the club as shown in dot and dashlines in Figur s 2 and 3.

it the instant the club head tirst engages the hall (which is thenstationary) the club head is retarded owing to the reaction of the hallon the sweet spot 11- of the club face. This reaction pressure isapplied to the club face so that it produces a moment relative to thegrip. As this pressure is not applied in line with the axis 15 of theclub shaft and grip, but at an appreciable distance to one side of thisaxis as shown in Figure 3, the reaction pressure is divided into twocomponents. one tending to bend the shaft further backward and the othertending to twist it on its axis. This cases the club head to move bodilybackward and to turn angularty an amount which varies with the strengthof the blow, mass of the club head, the loft. of the striking face, andthe lateral and torsional flexibility of the shaft.

The deflection of the club head caused by the impact is added to thatproduced during the downward swing and results in bending the club shaftout of its normal axis, displacing the club head a. very considerableamount from the normal position and allowing the grip to advance beyondthe club head, such a deflection may he demonstrated by gripping theclub in the ordinary manner and pressing the club face against astationary ball or other object. The flexing of the shaft will simulatethat produced during play. The apparent backward movement of the clubhead may range from onehalf inch to two inches and the angular twist ofthe striking face will vary several degrees. Such movei'i'ients of thehead relative to the ball are illustrated in the dotted lines of Figures2 and 3 while the flexing of the club shaft. out of its normal axis issimilarly shown in Figure 1. From this it will be apparent that the clubgrip is in advance of the club head, that the striking face has beentwisted clockwise when viewed from above and counter clockwise whenviewed from the toe. As this is the position of the club head when itstarts the hall from its position of rest it may be seen that thedirection of flight, angle of elevation and amount of rolling orwhirling of the ball will depend on conditions at this instant.

In golf clubs heretofore. available the striking face has been cut inaccordance with the fancy of the designer, with no accurate informationas to the conditions to be overcome and no consideration for thenon-uniformity of materials used or peculiarities of the individual touse the club. The clubs available on the market are stock articles andmay or may not suit the stroke of the player. The cflicient handling ofany such particular club has required a long tryout and considerableexperience to overcome the deficiencies of the club in the hands of theuser. In many cases this has been impossible and the player is unable toovercome slicing or pulling the ball.

I have, however, discovered that these defects in the club may largelybe overcome when the club is properly faced for the particular useintended, and will now describe a convenient method of so shaping thefaces of the clubs and a suitable form of apparatus for carrying out theoperations.

This apparatus may conveniently be supported on a base plate or casting20 adapted to be placed 011 a suitable pedestal or bench, not shown. Abracket arm 21 bolted or otherwise fastened to the under rear part ofthe base is indicated at The upper end 23 of this bracket is a sli htdistance above the top 24 of the base and carries an obliquely upwardliyextending rod or pipe 25, these parts being clamped together in anyconvenient manner, such as by saddle piece 26 and bolts 27.

The pipe 25 is approximately the length of a golf club shaft and gripand extends at about the angle of the axis of a golf club whenaddressing a ball. Near the upper end of this club supporting rod aretwo clamping devices 28 and 29 for the club grips. As here shown thesegrip clamps each include a casting 30 adjustably carried on the rod 25,and clamped in place by a screw 31. The upper front portions of theclamp casting 30 are bifurcated as indicated at and S3 and eachbifurcation is apcrtured as indicated at 34 and Blocks 36 and 37 areslidably carried in these apertures and may be secured in any desiredposition by lock screws 38 and 39. These blocks are threaded asindicated at 40 and 41 and clamping screws 42'and 43, provided with aclub grip engaging jaw 44 and 45, are carried in the blocks. Thisarrangement of grip clamps allows one to clamp a club in place andadjust it as desired. The club is shown in position in Figures 4, 8 and9.

in adjusting the club in the clamps, the club head 12 which has beenshaped, except for the front face 113 is placed with its lower, orbottom face, on a ground plate 4-6 preferably removably carried on thetop face 24 of the base 20. This ground plate may be made of wood, andthe club head will now bear the same relation to it as it will to theground when in use.

()n the right front end of the base 20. the apparatus is provided, ashere shown, with a movably mounted abutment member 47 fastened in placeby a screw 48 and having a threaded hole 49 near its upper end. W'hcnthis member is in the position indicated in Figure 9, the axis of thishole is at the same elevation as the sweet spot of the club head 12. Apressure adjustment screw 50 is carried in this hole.

To apply pressure to the club face 13*, a device 51 such shown in Figure10 may be used as illustrated in Figures 8 and t). This device consistsof a cage 52 carrying a pointed tip 53, slidable plunger 54, andinterposed spring 55. The spring tends to hold the parts in extendedposition as indicated in Figure It). This pressure appliying device isplaced between the club face and tip of screw 50 and the screw tightenedup until the indicator 56, carried in the slot 57 of the casing 52 showsthat the desired pressure has been applied. This spring may becalibrated in pounds pressure, or preferably the calibration will be inaccordance with the length of drive of the player for whom the club isbeing faced. Hence it is possible to apply pressure on the sweet spotthe same as the reaction of the ball and effect of whip of the club sothat the club head bears the same position relative to the normal axisof the club grip as it does during play. Such a position of the clubhead is indicated in (lot and dash lines in Figure 8.

A club head clamping device (it) is carried on the left end of theapparatus as viewed in the drawings. This clamping device includes aC-shaped member (51 which may be fastened on the top face 24 of the.base 20 in any desired position by a bolt (32. The lower part of thismember has three spring pressed plungers 63, (i4, and '65 which areadapted to press up against the lower face of the club head in thedeflected position. These plunge/rs may be locked in position by setscrews 66, 67, and 68 so that they form a secure platform for supportingthe lower face 16 of the club head after which screw 69 is forced downonto the upper face l7 of the club head so that the club is fixed indistort ed position. The pressure applying device may then be removed.

The upper right hand end of the base 2U is provided with guide ways 70on which is slidably mounted a plate 71. The plate 7t carries a threadedstud 72 which carries a clamping member 73 between two nuts 74 and 75.The clamping member may be clamped to the base 20 by a locking screw 76.The plate 71 is provided with a transverse guide way 77 which may becurved or straight as desired. A tool support 78 is slidably carried inthe guidcway 77 and a tool holder 79 is pivotally carried on a shaft 80in the tool support. A tool 8l, which may be in the form of a rotarycutter is carried on a shaft 82 mounted in the tool support and a handwheel 83 is provided to rotate the cutter. The tool support may he movedback and forth along the guideway 77 by a threaded rod 84 connected tothe tool support and passing through a swiveled ltld yoke 85 supportedfrom the plate 71. A hand wheel 86 threaded on the rod 84- feeds thetool support across the guidcway 77.

After the club head has been clamped in the jaws of the club headclamping device and the pressure applying device removed. the abutmentl? is swung down out of the way and the ground plate 46 removed. Thetool holder 79 is brought to the proper angle of loft by adjusting it onaxis 80 the screw 76 is loosened and the plate 7! slid over toward thework and clamped in place. The tool is fed across the face of the clubby actuating the hand wheel 86 and additional cuts across the club faceare made by adjusting the plate 71 by the nuts 74 and 75. The club maythen be removed from the apparatus and one may now have a club whereinthe striking face is accurately placed for the desired loft anddirection. The striking face of the club, when in use, will be exactlynormal to the line of flight and straight drives may be obtained.

lv'hilc I have shown the guidcway 77 as curved. which is preferred forfacing wooden club heads. it is of course understood that this may bestraight. if desired. A metal driver, brassie or spoon does not have theneed for the curved striking face.

Instead of finishing the club face by a tool carried by the apparatus,it is entirely feasible to scribe the face onto the deflected club headand then cut it with a. chisel, tile or other hand tool. A form ofapparatus suitable for this operation is indicated in Figures 11 andThis apparatus may use substantially the same form of supporting base.club-grip clamping means, and club head clamping device heretoforedescribed in detail. A fragment of the base of the apparatus isindicated at 87. It extends to the right and in front of the strikingface 13 of the club as indicated. ()n the upper top face of the base 87an angle plate 88 is slitlably mounted by means of bolts 85) passingthrough slots .90 in the angle plate. This plate extends upwardly asindicated in the drawing at. an oblique angle and is apertured at 91 toreceive the club head and lower end of the club shaft. The angle atwhich this plate extends is determined by the loft desired. After theclub head has been deflected as above described, it may be clamped ornot as desired, and the plate 88 slid over to the left as indicated indotted lines. and clamped into position by the bolts 85). One can thenmark on the club head lines to which it is to be trimmed and thetrimming done after the club has been removed from the apparauts, or incase a clamping means is provided. one can clamp the club head inposition and shape the club face as determined by the sliding plate 88which will form a guide for the tool. In carrying out this finishingoperation, one

can use a saw, tile, chisel, or similar device.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A golf club having a grip, shaft, and club 11 ad provided with astriking face, and wherein the angle of the striking face is fixedlyrelated to both the lateral and torsional flexibility of the shaft and apredetermined moment produced by pressure on the striking face.

2. A golf club whose striking face is positioned relative to the gripaccording to a predetermined strength of blow to be struck and accordingto the deflection of the club head produced by such blow.

A golf club having a grip, shaft and club head provided with a strikingface wherein the outer portion of club face is in advance of the innerportion thereof an amount which bears a definite relation to the lateralflexibility of the shaft whereby the striking face is brought parallelwith the normal axis of the club when delivering a predetermined blow.

l. The process of shaping the face of a golf club. which consists incutting the striking face of the club at an angle relative to the normalaxis of the club shaft and grip which is determined in accordance withthe deflection of the club head under a predetermined moment produced bypressure on the striking face.

5. In the process of determining the proper angle for the face of a golfclub head relative to the normal axis of the club shaft and grip forpredetermined moments produced by pressure on the striking face, thestep which consists in laterally deflecting and twisting the club shaftand head an amount corresponding thereto.

(5. The process of shaping the face of a golf club, which consists infixedly clamping the grip of the golf club, applying a predeterminedpressure to the unfinished face of the club in a direction approximatelyin the line of flight of a ball to deflect the club shaft and head, andfinishing the face of the deflected club head to a predetermined anglerelative to the normal axis of the club grip.

7. in the shaping of the striking face of a golf club head, the processwhich consists in clamping the grip of the club. applying apredetermined pressure to the unfinished face of the club in a directionapproximately in the line of flight of a ball to deflect the club shaftand head. clamping the club head in deflected position, and finishingthe face of the club head to a predetermined angle relative to thenormal axis of the club grip.

8. The process of shaping the face of a golf club. which consists inclamping the grip of the club. laterally deflecting and twisting theclub head shaft an amount corresponding with a stroke of predeterminedstrength and cutting back the face of the club to an angle so that it isat a predetermined loft and substantially parallel with the normal axisof the club grip and shaft.

9. An apparatus for shaping' golf club faces, comprising means forfixedly clamping a got f club grip, pressure applying means forproducing a moment, in the club shaft relative to the fixedly clanuiedgrip to laterally bend and twist the club shaft and dc fleet the clubhead, and means for cutting the club face to have, when so deflected, apredetermined loft and to be substantially parallel with the normal axisof the club shaft and grip.

10. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces, comprising, means forfixedly clamping a golf club grip, pressure a 'iplyintf means forproducing a moment in the club shaft relative to the fixedly clampedgrip to laterally bend and twist the club shaft and deflect the clubhead, means for ctamping the club head in deflected position. and meansfor cutting the club face to have. when so deflected, a predeterminedloft and to be substantially parallel with the normal axis of the clubshaft and grip.

11. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces. comprising. means forfixedly clamping a golf club grip, pressure applying means havingpressure indicating means for producing a predetermined moment in theclub shaft relative to the fixedly clamped grip to laterally bend andtwist the club shaftand deflect the club head an amount corresponding toa blow of n'edetcrmined strength. and means for cutting the club face tohave, when so deflected. a predetermined loft and to he sul'istantiallyparallel with the normal axis of the club shaft and grip 12. Anapparatus for shaping golf club faces. comprising. means for tixedlyclamping a golf club grip, removahly mounted pressure applying means forproducing a moment in the club shaft relative to the fixedly clampedgrip to laterally bend and twist the club shaft and deflect the clubhead. means to clamp the club head in deflected position after which thepressure applying means may he removed. a cutter, means to adjust thecutter to a predetermined loft. and means to guide the cutter across theclub face to cut the club face substantially parallel with the normalaxis of the club shaft and grip.

13. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces, comprising. a horizontalground plate. means for clamping the club grip at substantially theplaying angle relative to the ground plate, with the club head restingon the ground plate, a pressure applying device engageable with thesweet spot of the club face to apply a predetermined pressure againstthe club head and push the club head rearwardly to bend and twist theclub shaft, means to clamp the club head in deflected position so thatthe pressure applying device may be removed, and a cutting tool mountedfor transverse movement for cutting and shaping the deflected face at apredetermined loft.

it. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces, comprising, a horizontalground plate, means for clamping the club grip at substantially theplaying angle relative to the ground plate, with the club head restingon the ground plate, a pressure applying device engageable with thesweet spot of the club face to apply a predetermined pressure againstthe club head and push the club head rearwardly to bend and twisttheclub shaft, a. movable jaw which may be brought into engagement with thedeflected club head and to which the club head may be clamped indeflected position, means for fixedly clamping the jaw, so that thepressure applying device may he removed without releasing the club head,and a cutting tool mounted for transverse movement for cutting andshaping the deflected face at a predetermined loft.

.15. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces, comprising, a horizontalground plate, means for clamping the club grip at substantially theplaying angle relative to the ground plate, with the club head restingon the ground plate, a pressure applying device engageahlc with thesweet spot of the club face to apply a nedetermilied pressure againstthe club head and push the club head rear 'ardly to bend and twist theclub shaft, means to clamp the club head in deflected position so thatthe pressure applying device may be removed without releasing the clubhead, a horizontal tool guide, and a tool mounted therein for cuttingand shaping the deflected club face, the tool being mounted on a.horizontal axis to permit varying the angle of loft of the club face.

16. A golf club facing device having a jaw for clamping a club head infixed position, a. tool guide, a tool support carried on the tool guide,a tool mounted in the tool support, means for adjusting the angle of thetool support to determine the angle of loft of the club face. and meansto move the tool along the tool guide to cause the tool to cut acrossthe club face.

17. In an apparatus for shaping golf club faces, a clamping device forfixedly supporting a golf club grip with the shaft and head free to tiesand deflect though delivering a blow to a golf ball, a pressure applyingdevice for so flexing the shaft and deflecting the head and holding thesame in such position, and a second clamping device to receive thedeflected club head and hold it in such position after the pressure hasbeen removed.

18. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces. comprising a ground plate,means for fixedly clamping a golf club grip with the club atsubstantially playing angle relative to the ground plate, a stationarytransverse guide for a cutter arranged in front of the ground plate, alongitudinally movable clamping device, pressure applying means forproducing a moment in the club shaft relative to the grip for moving thehead backWar-dly into the clamping device, means for securing thedeflected head therein, and a cutter carried in the transverse guide forcutting the club face at a predetermined angle relative to the clamps.

vices being adjustable to permit variation of the vertical andhorizontal angle of the club grip, pressure applying means acting on theclub face for producing a moment in the club shaft to deflect it, a clubhead clamping device carried by the base for clamping the club head indeflected position and a cutter adjustably carried by the base forcutting the club face at a predetermined horizontal angle relative tothe base and at a predetermined angle of loft.

20. An apparatus for shaping golf club faces, comprising, club gripclamping means for clamping a club at substantially playing angle, clubhead clamping means for holding the club head in deflected positionrelative to the grip, and a cutter for cutting the club face atpredetermined angles of loft and substantially parallel With the normalaxis of club grip and shaft.

FREDERICK A. VVALDRON.

